Chad rebels prepare offensive as president Idriss Déby is buried

Front for Change and Concord heads towards capital, N'Djamena, where memorial took place

Rebels were preparing a new offensive towards the capital of Chad on Friday as dignitaries and supporters paid their final respects to Idriss Deby, the veteran ruler of the central African state, who died earlier this week from wounds sustained on the battlefield".

The Front for Change and Concord in Chad (FACT) said its forces were about 190 miles (300km) north of N'Djamena, the capital, but would observe a pause in hostilities to allow time for Deby, who was 68 when he died, to be buried.